Let’s take a trip back to 2008. It was Obama’s first year in office and the markets were tumbling. Business casual looks — peplum tops and blazers — were being trucked directly from work to the clubs.

All-night-long parties, bonfires and whiskey, belting karaoke: In their new single, Kesha and T-Pain may have single-handedly heralded the return of recession pop. “Yippee-Ki-Yay," released March 27, ...